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Benny Gantz

Yashar chairman Gadi Eisenkot speaks at the launch of his party's election campaign in Hod Hasharon, June 30, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
July 6, 2026, 12:58 pm
Gruff and unpolished, Gadi Eisenkot is becoming the face of the anti-Netanyahu movement
The plainspoken ex-IDF head embodies a shift from the PM’s slick style, which has come to define Israeli politics. But after surging in the polls, he now faces a brutal campaign as Netanyahu’s chief foe
By Ben Sales
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, attends a Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting alongside Likud MK Yuli Edelstein at the Knesset on June 13, 2023. (Oren Ben Hakoon/Flash90)
July 5, 2026, 5:14 pm
Joining legion of Likud castoffs, Edelstein may not yet be clear of Netanyahu’s pull
Splitting from the party that already quit him, the former Knesset speaker becomes the latest senior Likud politician to strike out on his own, though breaking free may not be so simple
By Tal Schneider
(L-R) Yoaz Hendel in Petah Tikva, May 10, 2026 (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90) Blue and White chief MK Benny Gantz at the Knesset on June 29, 2026 (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90) and Dedy Simhi in Jerusalem, July 5, 2026 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90 )
July 5, 2026, 3:18 pm
Hendel said not expected to run with Gantz and Simhi amid Haredi coalition dispute
Reservists leader vows to boycott Haredi parties, but Gantz and newcomer Simhi haven’t ruled out sitting with them; meetings among the potential allies ongoing while party chair Hendel on active IDF duty
By Ariela Karmel
Gadi Eisenkot (right) greets supporters at the launch of his Yashar party’s election campaign, in Hod Hasharon, central Israel, June 30, 2026. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
July 1, 2026, 3:40 pm
Gadi Eisenkot launches a centrist campaign tailored for the commuters of Route 4
Running under the heavy shadow of wartime grief, the former IDF chief aims to capture Israel’s middle class while keeping a fractured opposition bloc from collapsing
By Tal Schneider
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu interviewed on the Channel 14 program "The Patriots" on June 30, 2026. (Screen capture)
July 1, 2026, 3:31 am
Netanyahu: The pursuit of ‘total victory’ against Iran and its proxies ‘never ends’
In first Hebrew media interview of election campaign, PM says full unity not possible but that he seeks to form broad gov’t after election that will include far-right, Haredi parties and continue judicial overhaul
By Nava Freiberg and ToI Staff
Dedy Simhi speaks at a conference at Reichman University, Herzliya, January 22, 2026. (Tal Gal/Flash90)
June 28, 2026, 12:48 pm
Dedy Simhi says his emerging alliance with Gantz would sit with anyone but Arab parties
TV pundit, a former rescue chief whose son died fighting on Oct. 7, says party would join a single bloc’s government only if ‘proper and honorable’ unity offer is made and rejected
By ToI Staff
Yoaz Hendel (L) and Benny Gantz (R) at the Knesset on May 13, 2019. (Noam Revkin Fenton/Flash90)
June 25, 2026, 4:54 pm
Potential Gantz-Hendel-Simhi alliance faces hurdles despite merger reports
Sources say talks between Blue and White, Reservists, Dedy Simhi ongoing but gaps remain over position on Haredi parties; Reservists exploring other options, seeks to be ‘kingmaker’
By Ariela Karmel
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White chief Benny Gantz greet each other at a special plenum session presenting the new emergency government at the assembly hall of the Knesset in Jerusalem on October 12, 2023. (Noam Revkin Fenton/Flash90)
June 22, 2026, 5:20 pm
Netanyahu is using a desperate Benny Gantz to do his political dirty work
Whether Gantz crosses the election threshold or not, his frantic campaigning and attacks on former political allies are serving the prime minister’s agenda perfectly
By Shalom Yerushalmi
Opposition Leader Yair Lapid addresses his Yesh Atid party's weekly faction meeting in the Knesset, May 25, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
May 25, 2026, 6:22 pm
Lapid takes aim at ‘disaster’ US-Iran deal, says Netanyahu failed to achieve victory
Opposition leader says it’s ‘absurd’ negotiations to end conflict did not include Israel, which must ‘maintain freedom of action’ regardless of agreement
By Sam Sokol
Screen capture from video of a right-wing protest outside the home of IDF Chief Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, May 24, 2026. (Social media, used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
May 24, 2026, 8:50 am
Right-wing activists protest outside IDF chief’s house, call him ‘traitor’
Demonstrators angry at jailing of soldier who wore a controversial, unauthorized ‘Messiah’ patch on combat uniform; opposition figures blame government
By ToI Staff
ToI political correspondents Ariela Karmel and Sam Sokol join host Jessica Steinberg on today's Daily Briefing podcast. (ToI)
May 10, 2026, 2:44 pm
Daily Briefing May 10: Political parties form new constellations ahead of elections
Political correspondents Sam Sokol and Ariela Karmel discuss the opposition parties’ mergers and defections, and a blitz of new legislation as the Knesset goes back to work
By Jessica Steinberg, Sam Sokol and Ariela Karmel
MKs Avigdor Liberman (front right) and Gadi Eisenkot (bottom left) in the Knesset, September 9, 2024. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
May 8, 2026, 11:28 am
Eisenkot-Liberman merger would be biggest faction, could boost opposition – survey
Polls essentially unchanged since last week, with Zman showing Zionist opposition with narrow majority; Reservists’ Hendel reportedly in touch with Gantz about joint run
By ToI Staff and Tal Schneider
MK Chili Tropper attends a plenum session at the assembly hall of the Knesset, in Jerusalem, August 14, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
May 3, 2026, 3:14 pm
Blue and White MK Chili Tropper quits party, raising speculation about his future… and Gantz’s
Former minister becomes latest to leave Gantz’s floundering faction, says he’ll meet anyone who will ‘rebuild’ country’s leadership; reports say move to Eisenkot’s party likely
By Ariela Karmel
L-R: Former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot seen during a visit to Kibbutz Yiftah near the Israeli border with Lebanon, March 9, 2026. (Ayal Margolin/Flash90); opposition leader and head of the Yesh Atid party MK Yair Lapid in the Knesset, March 30, 2026. (Oren Ben Hakoon/Flash90); former prime minister Naftali Bennett attends a funeral at the Military Cemetery in Beit She'an on April 9, 2026. (Michael Giladi/Flash90)
April 28, 2026, 4:25 pm
Lapid said willing to drop to third spot on ticket with Bennett if Eisenkot joins
Eisenkot resists invitation, welcomes economist Shaul Meridor into his own Yashar party’s electoral slate; low-polling Gantz says Bennett-Lapid merger doesn’t serve Israel’s interests
By Sam Sokol, Ariela Karmel and ToI Staff
(Clockwise from top left): The Democrats chief Yair Golan, Yesh Atid chief and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, Blue and White chief Benny Gantz and Yisrael Beytenu chief Avigdor Liberman hold a joint press conference at the Knesset in Jerusalem, November 6, 2024. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
February 28, 2026, 10:17 pm
Israeli opposition leaders rally behind government as Israel and US strike Iran
‘We are all united on the operation,’ declares Lapid; Arab-majority Hadash party calls Israel ‘full partner’ in ‘global American imperialism,’ slams opposition for backing attack
By Sam Sokol
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